Habitat

Areas with a tropical or sub-tropical climate are the normal habitat for veiled chameleons. They live on mountain sides and in river valleys. The trees they are most partial to are the acacias.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is achieved by veiled chameleons at 4-5 months of age. The breeding season is dependent on climatic conditions. When there is large amounts of rainfall breeding takes place all year. It is limited to September and October in drier areas.

Males are fiercely territorial and will fight off males especially around mating time. To scare predators they flash different colours, curl and uncurl their tails and then stand alongside the opponent. They will flatten out their body and inflate the throat pouch before gripping the others legs. As the fight intensifies they will headbutt, bite and cause other wounds. One male will concede defeat by darkening in colour and puffing down.

Females will also fight off unwanted male advances. This is achieved by turning bright green with blue and yellow spots. Similar to males they flatten out, hiss and sway from side to side. Occasionally though the female shows these signs as a way of saying she wants to mate. The male sits motionless nearby and waits till he knows she is receptive. Once she is ready he climbs onto her and mating begins. This may take place several times over the following days. She will darken once she wants to stop.

Females may lay up to three clutches each year and can delay the implantation of the eggs. After 20-30 days a clutch of eggs is laid. The average clutch of eggs contains 35 to 85 white, oval shaped eggs which have a hard shell. They are deposited in a small hole which the female digs in the ground. Depending on temperature the eggs may take 150-190 days to hatch. The higher the temperature is the quicker they hatch.

It may take up to a day for the hatchling to break free from the egg. There is a tiny swelling on the head where the casque will grow and they are pastel green. Many do not live to adulthood due to heavy predation.

Behavior

The male chameleon is a solitary species which only tolerates females in the territory for breeding.

Snakes and birds prey upon the veiled chameleon.

The chameleon lives an arboreal lifestyle meaning they mostly live in the trees. Their hands work much like those of humans so they can grip. The tails is also used to help grip the trees. They have a flat body which is leaf shaped to camouflage with the trees. When walking along branches they sway from side to side to look like a leaf. They stay still and wait for prey to approach them. Their long tongue allows them to do this.

The eyes can rotate 180 degrees and swivel independent of each other. This means that they look in any direction and never move their head. Both eyes must focus in the same place for them to perceive depth though.

Quick facts

The veiled chameleon is a commonly kept pet.

Some legends say that throwing a chameleon into a fire brings good luck.

Other names for the veiled chameleon include Yemen and cone-head chameleon.